I plan on traveling to England off and on throughout the year. I cannot find a clear answer to whether you can stay 6 months out of any 12 month period, or just maximum 6 months at a time. Does anyone know?
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
This is from the UK Border Agency website: "If you want to come to the UK as a tourist or to visit friends you should apply as a general visitor. To visit the UK in this capacity you must be able to show that: * you intend to visit the UK for no more than six months; * you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit, and
* you have enough money to support yourself and live in the UK without working or needing any help from public funds." I interpret that as 6 months at a time.
Posted by
NC, United States
970 posts
Sounds like you expect to spend more the 6 months in the UK over that one year period. When you enter the UK, your passport will be stamped. On the stamp it will say "Leave to Enter for Six Months". Dunno if it resets to 6 months every time you re-enter. Does the UK have a consulate in Seattle? Talk to them. Or, call the embassy in D.C.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5850 posts
When are you returning to the U.S? Do you know anyone who lives here? Where are you staying? How long is this stay? What is the nature of your visit? When were you here last? Why are you coming back to the UK? These are the things that UK immigration will likely ask about on your second visit and every visit after that if you travel back frequently. The UK is one place where they will look through your passport for prior visits. If they see other recent visits, you will get questions. You can make multiple visits in a single year, but if immigration thinks that you are either living in the UK or have no intention of returning to the U.S., you will have an issue. I don't know what the maximum amount of time you can stay in a calendar year is, but if you are staying for an extended period of time and/or your visit is other than for tourism, you really need to check with the British Consulate. I had a UK residence/work visa at one point and I still got questioned on every re-entry, even with a valid 3 year visa.
Posted by
san diego, california, us
149 posts
This is from the ukvisitors.gov.uk website: "A general visit, business, entertainer or sports visit visa may be valid for 1, 2, 5 or 10 years. However, you are still only entitled to stay in the UK for a maximum of 180 days (6 months). A 2 year visit visa does not mean you are entitled to stay in the UK for 2 years, for example. We recommend that you limit your stay to the period stated on your visa application or to a maximum of 180 days within a 12 month period. Lengthy periods spent in the UK as a visitor may cause an immigration or visa officer to doubt your intentions. If you breach the conditions attached to your entry to the UK, you face a future ban of up to 10 years."